Sam Parkin's fifth away goal of the season took the Blues to a 1-1 draw at Brighton's Withdean Stadium. Parkin struck on 39, Dean Hammond having put the Seagulls in front earlier in the half.

The Blues were without Nicky Forster who failed a morning fitness test for a knee injury which may also force him out of the Derby game on Wednesday.

Dean Bowditch came into the starting line-up alongside Sam Parkin with Adam Proudlock wide on the right. Fabian Wilnis came in for Jay McEveley at left-back, while Jimmy Juan and Matt Richards continued at the centre of midfield.

Brighton lavished free champagne on the travelling Blues outside the ground, part of their victory celebrations after the success of their long-running fight for a new stadium at Falmer.

Penalty area action was rare early on but a Darren Currie freekick reached Parkin but his shot and a subsequent effort from Richard Naylor were both blocked. From the resultant Town corner, Brighton broke through Sebastien Carole, the midfielder eventually having his shot blocked at the edge of the Town area by Jason De Vos.

Alexandre Frutos headed a cross wide on 13 before referee Richard Beeby pulled play back for a Town freekick with Dean Bowditch apparently through on goal on the left.

The home side were generally having the better of it and in the 15th minute they went in front. Sabastien Carole crossed from the right and Dean Hammond slotted home from close range.

Lewis Price did well to push Frutos's 25-yard freekick wide of goal. At the other end Bowditch scuffed a deflected cross from the left from Currie. Soon after, the England U19 international switched to the right of midfield with Adam Proudlock joining Sam Parkin up front. On the half hour, Jimmy Juan got his name in the referee's book for a foul.

With the Town midfield unable to impose themselves on the game, boss Joe Royle brought Jim Magilton on for Matt Richards while Brighton's Charlie Oatway received lengthy treatment. The midfielder was eventually taken off on a stretcher and was replaced with Alexis Nicolas.

The Blues got back on terms in the 39th minute. Wilnis crossed from the left and Parkin flicked a near post header past Wayne Henderson and into the far corner of the net. Parkin, booed by some fans at Portman Road of late, 'celebrated' the goal by appearing to make comment on the issue towards the Town support behind the goal.

Brighton had certainly had the better of the first half, however Town had improved after the introduction of Jim Magilton.

Parkin came close to putting the Blues ahead in the first minute of the second period. Another Currie freekick was whipped into the box and the ex-Swindon man headed the ball off the top of the bar.

On 55 the Blues replaced the quiet Adam Proudlock with Dean McDonald, the former Arsenal trainee moving to right midfield and Dean Bowditch rejoining Parkin up front.

Town were looking much more threatening than they had before the break. On 58 Bowditch headed Currie's cross wide when it seemed easier to score and was probably relieved to see that the linesman had already raised his flag.

Leon Knight got his name in the book in the 63rd minute for a foul on Currie. Five minutes later the Brighton striker was close hit a shot from the edge of the area which cannoned off the bar but fortunately away from other Seagulls' players, Lewis Price appearing to have got his fingertips to the ball.

At the other end Richard Naylor headed over, then Jason De Vos went wide and Currie, playing against one of his old clubs, shot over from the edge of the box.

Knight shot over after a De Vos error then McDonald's strike went wide from 20 yards. Shortly afterwards Nicolas picked up a yellow card for a foul on Jimmy Juan.

Brighton's Adam El-Abd came close to a winner in the 81st minute, flicking a header from a Carole freekick just wide.

McDonald's well-struck shot was saved by Henderson, then Price saved El-Abd's cross-shot, Richard Naylor heading the loose ball out of play. Seagulls' sub Jake Robinson was sent away one-on-one with Price soon after, but the Town keeper was equal to his shot.

With three minutes remaining, Robinson's shot deflected wide, prior to Jay McEveley replacing Darren Currie as the Blues appeared to settle for the point. Dean Bowditch had Town's final chance in injury time but Henderson saved.

A draw was probably the right result, the home side having had the better of the first half without creating too many chances and the Blues the best of the second, although again without too much clear-cut being produced. Brighton came back strongly late on and could have sneaked it through either of their subs, Adam El-Abd and Jake Robinson both squandering good opportunities.

For the Blues, Jim Magilton once again showed that his presence settles the midfield, while Dean Bowditch had his best game for some while, although looking understandably short of confidence in front of goal.

Parkin took his goal well, his fifth of the season, all of them away from home and all in the orange kit. There can be few strikers in this division to have scored as many away goals so far this season, especially without netting on their own territory.

A better display in the second half than in most recent games, but Town still look a long way from a side likely to be challenging at the top of the division come May.

Town: Price, Wilnis, Sito, Naylor, De Vos, Richards (Magilton 32), Currie (McEveley 88), Juan, Proudlock (McDonald 55), Parkin, Bowditch. Unused: Supple, Peters. Att: 6,867.

Photo: Action Images

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